This is the beginning of a trilogy of stories known as The Black Guardian Trilogy in which the Black Guardian returns to seek revenge against the Doctor for thwarting his plans to steal the Key to Time. This time the Black Guardian uses the help of a young alien trapped on Earth and posing as a public school boy...I'm not really sure why but this is Turlough's first appearance in the series as the new companion...a companion who is working for the Black Guardian and trying to kill the Doctor...well it's different I suppose.
The return of the Black Guardian is exciting but it's nowhere near as exciting as another return for the series. The Brigadier is back!! I love the Brigadier!
When we first meet the Brigadier (now retired and working as a school teacher), he has no memory of the Doctor or the TARDIS but does remember his days working at UNIT. It's during a conversation in his cottage, when the Doctor casually brings up his old assistant, Jo Grant, that we see the first fleeting memories sweep through the Brigadier's mind. After further mentions of both Liz Shaw and Sarah Jane Smith, we are treated to an absolutely brilliant flashback sequence where the Brigadier remembers all his times with the Doctor. This is accompanied by some fantastic music too, it gave me goosebumps!
For a series about a man who can travel in time, the classic series of Doctor Who very rarely meddles in the effects of time travel. This story is one exception as we have the Doctor trapped in 1983 without his TARDIS and Nyssa and Tegan in 1977. Here, Nyssa and Tegan meet a younger version of the Brigadier. Two Brigadiers for the price of one! It's a testament to the acting ability of Nicholas Courtney that we can sense some distinct differences between the older and younger versions of his character.
Anyway the basic plot revolves around a race of beings who have tried to replicate the Time Lords ability to regenerate by stealing technology from Gallifrey. These experiment have caused terrible mutations and left them in a state of perpetual torment, never dying. They therefore need the Doctor's help to help them to die! Sounds grizzly. Whilst all this is going on, poor Turlough is going through his own problems as he is constantly tormented by visions of the Black Guardian demanding that he kill the Doctor! Turlough is a pretty good companion. Male companions are few and far between in the series so its nice when one comes along..in fact I think you could argue that Turlough is the last male companion until Rory comes along in 2010!
This story is great from start to finish. It does lag a bit in episode 4 but I can forgive it that.
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